Monday 5 March 2007 19.00-20.30, Room H216 London School of Economics, Houghton Street , London WC2A 2AE Followed by film projection: ‘Liviu’s Dream’ by Corneliu Porumboiu This presentation is on the subject of the portraiture of the late Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, analysing the origins of his megalomaniac personality cult and how it was expressed in the Romanian fine arts. It is the author’s opinion that what you are about to see was not the work of the dictator, nor of some Party apparatchik, but a complete iconographic programme that was meant to rival and surpass those of the historical figures from the Romanian pantheon. We are going to trace, as far as our powers permit, the birth of an unfortunate and undesired icon, or rather of a spectre that haunted Romania for about 20 years. Mihai Risnoveanu is an unaffiliated art historian and critic. He has studied History of Art at the Art University in Bucharest , Romania , and has an MA from Birkbeck College , University of London . His interest in Romania 's 'Golden Epoch' stems from a childhood in which Ceausescu and his image were (more or less) omnipresent. ‘Liviu’s Dream’ by Corneliu Porumboiu. Romania/2003/40 min/colour/English subtitles A strange dream, forgotten in the morning, and an unaccountable feeling are making Liviu look with resignation on the world he’s living in. The awakening to reality might coincide with the birth of his child... Mihai Risnoveanu is a Ratiu Foundation Alumni. He has previously presented some of his research in 2006, in the Culture Power series of talks organised by the Ratiu Foundation UK. For further details please send e-mail at mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk. This presentation is part of the Romanian Week at the London School of Economics (5 - 9 March 2007), organised by the LSE Students’ Union Romanian Society. Supported by the Romanian Cultural Centre in London.